Art Pick | Holiday Open House at Flatbed

By Sam Sumpter

While there’s no denying the universal appeal of a gift card, bypass the mall this year and step up your giving game with a piece of original artwork instead.

On December 12, Photo Méthode Gallery is hosting a Holiday Open House at the Flatbed Building, a creative hot spot that also houses Flatbed Press and Gallery, CamibaArt, Gallery Shoal Creek and other studios, many of which will be participating in the event as well. The open house not only serves as an opportunity to find something for everyone on your list—prints, books and other small works will be available for sale—but also allows for one-on-ones with the artists themselves. Essentially, gallery director Tina Weitz describes it best, as a chance to “come, de-stress and enjoy some beautiful art this busy holiday season.”

The open house is also the final day for photography fans to view Photo Méthode’s current featured exhibit: Kevin Greenblat’s “Child of the Mississippi,” a powerful, street-style documentation of the people and rich culture of New Orleans and southern Louisiana.

“I hope people walk away feeling introspective…feeling good about the human spirit,” Greenblat said of the photo series, which depicts life in the grittier areas of the region. “I think it’s really alive and well.”

The Holiday Open House will take place at the Flatbed Building at 2832 E. Martin Luther King Blvd. on December 12 from 12-5 pm. Find more info on both the event and Kevin Greenblat’s exhibit at photomethode.com.

SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY

As the warm weather begins to set in and patio parties hit our calendars, we can’t help but embrace that summertime has returned to Austin. If you’re anything like us, you’ll be celebrating the return of the season with decadent ice cream, healthy smoothies and icy cocktails from your favorite local spots.

For those days when it’s too hot to venture out, we went to Austin’s sweet treat professionals and compiled the ultimate collection of DIY recipes to make from your home. Click through the galleries below to learn how to make everything icy and sweet, from poptails for date night to ice cream sandwiches for a dinner party.

The spring edition of the Renegade Craft Fair returns for its seventh year in Austin May 14-15 at Fair Market. With over 125 makers on the roster, the scene is sure to be bustling with local artisans and DIYers slinging their unique, one-of-a-kind wares. In addition to great shopping, the RCF offers activities, special showcases and plenty of food and drink options for visitors. This year, celebrate your hard work shopping with a snack from Burro Cheese Kitchen and Lucky Lab Coffee Co. before commemorating the afternoon with some snapshots from Magnolia Photo Booth Co. But before...

Inspired by the beautiful outdoor living spaces featured in our May feature The Space Between, we went window shopping and found some great outdoor furniture and accessories to liven up your outdoor patio, porch and pool. Flip through the galleries below to see how you can add a pop of color and style to your outdoor hideaway.

Hundreds of people are moving to Austin each day, and downtown is one of the major hubs of growth for the city. Local real estate expert Jude Galligan discusses smart urban growth and what to expect this year as the skyline continues to evolve.

Your blog keeps Austin updated on the latest news in downtown. What is the most exciting development happening right now?

From my point of view, the most exciting development is the Waller Creek District Master Plan. Decades in the making, this transformative project came to life after designers competed for the contract. It is finally coming to downtown, bringing an imaginative chain of parks,...

Instead of letting all that inspiration go to waste, we tried our hand at flower arranging to see what we could create. Since we consider ourselves floral design novices, we asked a few top designers...